"You're a dear, Aunt Sarah!" exclaimed Mary, as she gave her a hug,
"and I'll embroider big, yellow daisies with brown centres of French
knots on gray linen for a new table cover. Won't they look just
sweet?"

"Yes, Mary, and I'll buy a large, new lamp with a pretty shade, as I
feel sure your Uncle will like to sit here evenings to read his papers
and farm journals."

"And don't forget the Shriners' little magazine, _The Crescent_, which
amuses him so greatly. Aunt Sarah, I do wish those stiff,
starchy-looking, blue-white Nottingham lace curtains at the windows
had grown yellow with age. They would be ever so much prettier and
softer looking, and they are such a pretty, neat design, too."

"Oh!" replied her Aunt, "that may be easily remedied. I'll just dip
them into a little weak liquid coffee and that will give them a creamy
tint, and take out the stiffness."

"Now," said Mary, "what shall we do with these stiff, ugly,
haircloth-covered chairs and sofa?"

"Why," replied Aunt Sarah, "we shall buy cretonne or art cloth, in
pretty shades of brown and tan or green, to harmonize with the wall
paper, and make slip covers for them all. We could never think of
dispensing with the sofa. It is a very important article of furniture
in German households. The hostess usually gives the person of greatest
distinction among her guests the place of honor beside her on the
sofa."